Replace Me (Kin #2)(35)
Author: Jennifer Foor

That moment brought so much into perspective for me.

My mind went to Lacey and what I could have had with her. I imagined her getting the sonogram while I held her hand, knowing they were my children. Realizing that she wasn’t mine set a new plan into affect. I wanted this life with Lacey and I was going to do whatever it took to get her back.

I had something that Joey didn’t.

I still had her heart.

Lacey

Joey had taken me to new heights, surprising me each time the two of us came together. He touched me like I was fragile and precious, not like he’d shown me how he touched other women. While in the shower, I closed my eyes and thought of the countless times he’d given me pleasure already. My skin vibrated as I brushed the washcloth over my tender pu**y. It had been throbbing since our last encounter, hours ago. Joey was like a sex machine, and he never gave up until I was ready to pass out.

I let the rag drop and touched my bare fingers to my clit, moving them around in a circular motion. I lathered up my tits with my free hand and watched myself pinching my left nipple. I leaned back against the wall and moved my hand faster, pressing hard as my fingers teased my eager clit. Soon, my legs were buckling and I was silently crying out in bliss.

I stepped out after finally rinsing off, gently drying my still trembling body. Joey was on the couch, in only a pair of boxers. He smiled when I walked in, wrapped in only a towel. “I think we should do somethin’ today.”

I climbed on top of him, looking him right in those light hazel-brown eyes. “We are doing something.”

He patted on my legs after accepting a short kiss. “I meant go out. Let me take you out to dinner, on a real date.”

I was shocked, after hearing so many horror stories about Joey not doing anything but screwing random women. “You really want to take me out?”

He rubbed my arms and smiled. “Yes. Why are you sayin’ it like that?”

I shrugged and smiled awkwardly. I don’t know. Everyone says you don’t ever do that. I just can’t understand why you feel like doing it with me. You’ve already gotten me in bed, several times. Aren’t I breaking every one of your rules?”

He tugged down the towel and massaged my tits while he looked at them. “Rules are made to be broken, especially when they’re with someone like you, Lacey. You made me f**kin’ crazy when you wouldn’t talk to me. I’ve never had to chase pu**y before. Not ever.”

Our lips met and I teased him with my tongue. “So, was I worth the chase?”

He cocked his eyebrow, while pinching my nipple and biting down on his lip. “I can’t get enough of you. Does that answer your question?”

I should have been satisfied, but for some reason, I wasn’t. Joey was amazing and also mysterious. There was so much I didn’t know about him. “It answers that one, but you still haven’t said what you want from me. Is this just sex? Are we friends with casual benefits? Forgive me for being blunt, I just need to know what I’m getting myself into. After Shayne, I can’t be in the dark about anything.”

Joey pulled me close, cuddling with me on the couch. He grabbed the remote that he still kept behind his head instead of an end table, and turned the volume down. “I reckon you deserve answers then. Lacey, I’m not real sure what this is between us. I’m not the kind of guy that goes lookin’ for women. I have understandin’s and nobody complains. You’re not like them. I get that you want some kind of label, because that’s all you’ve ever known. I’m just not sure I can make promises without breakin’ them. Do you understand?”

I really didn’t. “You say I’m different, but not different enough to just want to see me?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth. I never said that. I’ve never had to answer to a woman. My life’s been too busy to settle down. Things have changed and perhaps bein’ with you could turn into somethin’ more. It feels right, but I don’t know how long it will last, so I don’t want to lie about it. It’s all new. I might just wake up one day and decide I need to be single. Do you understand?”

I was annoyed, but for some reason, I did understand. “I appreciate that you’re being honest about it. Most guys would tell me what I wanted to hear to shut me up.”

He brushed the hair away from my face. “I’m not most guys.”

“No, you’re not.” I smiled and tried to think about being happy where we were at. It had only been a few times that we’d been together. Obviously, it was too soon for anyone to put labels on it, but I felt weary, like everything could change in an instant. The more I fell for Joey, the scarier it was going to be to allow myself feelings that would in turn break my heart again.

After we laid there talking for a while, I reached over and grabbed my phone. I needed to put some clothes on, or at least hang up the towel and walk around naked. It was damp and getting on the sofa fabric. Joey watched me as I looked at it. “I can’t believe that I haven’t gotten any phone calls today. I figured Sky would be blowing it up.”

Joey laughed. “It didn’t ring while you were in the shower.” I turned to look at him and he was staring at the television when he spoke. Deciding that it was a good time to change, I hurried into the bedroom to do so.

Like every time I’d gotten a shower here, Joey had set out a t-shirt of his for me to put on. The shirt he’d picked out had a lapel on it that would have scratched my chest, so I went into his dresser to find another one.

I did find a plain one, but that wasn’t all that was in his drawer. Over a dozen photos of naked girls, laying sprawled out on beds were in a pile. I glanced at them quickly and then put them back where they were. When Joey came in and saw the shirt, I could tell he knew that I knew. He sat down on the bed and patted the spot beside him. I was reluctant, but made my way there. Our eyes locked and he shot me a smile. “Ask away.”

How was I supposed to approach this without seeming jealous or disturbed when frankly, I was both. “There’s like a dozen different women in those pictures, Joey.”

He pointed to the dresser. “Go get them.” I couldn’t help but notice that he seemed unaffected, like it wasn’t a big deal at all.

I walked over and grabbed the pictures, then placed them in the palm of his waiting hand. “I wasn’t snooping. I just wanted a more comfortable shirt, I swear.”

He took the pictures and spread them out on his bed. Then he pointed to one. “Her name is Courtney. I met her in culinary school, first. We were teamed up to work on a project. Her boyfriend was also in the program and she loved him enough to sabotage our team, for his to do better.”